The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) do more than provide a reliable, predictable and congestion-free route for Santa to deliver toys on The Toll Roads of Orange County. For 22 years in a row, TCA’s staff has also collected hundreds of gifts for families in need during the holiday season through a partnership with the Thomas House Family Shelter in Garden Grove.
Thomas House Family Shelter is a transitional family housing shelter that provides resources necessary for homeless families with children to remain together, while also empowering them to become independent and self-sufficient.
“This year we fulfilled the wish lists of 117 people living or receiving services at the Thomas House Shelter, including children as young as nine months and parents in their mid-60s,” said Mike Kraman, CEO of TCA. “We broke all previous records in terms of gifts collected and donated. Our staff always looks forward to this annual tradition and we see it as the very best way to celebrate the holiday season – giving back to our community and those in need.”
Families living at the shelter during the holiday season fill out wish lists with items they hope to receive. Since 1996, when the 133 and 241 Toll Roads first opened to traffic, new wish lists have been posted every year in the TCA office for employees to view and choose from. Most of the nearly 70 employees at TCA personally shopped for and wrapped the gifts for the Thomas House families and all gifts were delivered to the shelter on December 19.
To learn more about the Thomas House Family Shelter, visit thomashouseshelter.org
The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) are two joint powers authorities formed by the California legislature in 1986 to plan, finance, construct and operate Orange County’s public toll road system. Fifty-one miles of the system are complete, including the 73, 133, 241 and 261 Toll Roads. TCA continues to meet the region’s growing need for congestion-free transportation alternatives.
